Northern Constabulary's Inverness Area Commander Superintendent David O'Connor said yesterday changes in structure would be brought in at the start of next month to make the force more accountable.

The city will be split into six beats - Merkinch, Dalneigh and Kinmylies, Inverness centre, Crown and Lochardil, Raigmore and Hilton, and Smithton and Culloden.

Each beat will have 24-hour coverage by two officers who will be introduced to their communities as the faces for the area.

The announcement came four days after private talks with the Merkinch community whose leaders called for the reinstatement of its beat officer, claiming an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour since the post was scrapped.

People in Merkinch and South Kessock also complained since the force cut the number of community officers from two to one six months ago it had become more difficult to contact officers.

Although Merkinch will not have its community police officer reinstated, the police argue the new structure will help.

"A number of changes will be implemented from 1st November," said Superintendent O'Connor, who stressed internal and external consultation were on-going to finalise plans.

"We will identify two officers for each shift who will carry out community policing response duties in each part of their area.

"This will allow us to get more ownership in terms of policing in local communities as officers build clear knowledge and understanding of each area while building a rapport with residents and solving problems with local solutions.

"It aims to improve consistency at a local level and is designed and intended to make sure community policing is developed in the city."

A new command control system will also be installed to monitor progress.

Ali Locke, South Kessock Residents' Association chairman and Merkinch Community Council vice-chairman, said last week's meeting with Superintendent O'Connor was positive.

However, he told the police chief of one incident where officers failed to repond within an hour when an air rifle was being discharged in South Kessock.

"It was about three to four months ago and someone was drunk and was firing it in the Westfield. The superintendent said waiting for that time was certainly indefensible," he said.

Merkinch Community Council chairman Ally MacLean said although the new structure was not what it had asked for, it would wait and see how the new system worked.

"I think it's a case of we have got to take what's coming and see how it goes" he explained. "It was a very good meeting, very amicable but we will have to give it time.

"Certainly Superintendent O' Connor said he would come back in what happens then."

* FROM today motorists who use a riverside city centre street as a short cut face fixed penalty fines of £60.

Traffic wardens and police warned drivers yesterday they would be penalised if they continued to ignore signs restricting access to taxis and buses only on Fraser Street.

Use of the street as a rat-run for drivers has increased following ongoing gas mains work in Academy Street.

Yesterday seven motorists were found to flout the law by officers in position at the junction of Fraser Street and Queensgate.

"Monday was a day for warnings," said chief inspector Colin Souter. "After that there will not be any excuses."

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